In the distance, an old man chants in a preternatural. Beginnings and Ends. Old traditions, new friends, and a summer ritual.

Transcription

1 Old traditions, new friends, and a summer ritual. Beginnings and Ends by ADAM SCHWARTZ In the distance, an old man chants in a preternatural voice, Whata Hata Ho-ooo. We all respond to the mysterious voice by echoing the same words. Jingling bells signal the approach of a young lad costumed in war paint and an Indian headdress. The youthful brave nods to us, and we understand that we are to follow him through the woods, embarking on an unknown adventure. The Indian, too, wonders what the setting sun will bring as he diligently walks barefoot over rocky paths and prickly pine needles. We approach the area together, although a few stragglers lag behind. Do they stop to pick up something they have dropped, or have they slowed their pace to think for a moment about this very special night? When we arrive at our destination, we spy other groups of children who are already sitting on black wooden benches, quietly awaiting the program. Our group stakes out a place and sits down, some on the cold ground and oth- 49

2 50 GETTING THERE ers on the splintered benches. Meanwhile, our Indian guide proceeds to the front to stand with the other Indian leaders. The landscape is magnificent. The lake flows gently behind the Indians, its waves rolling into shore. An occasional raucous motorboat causes a disturbance on the peaceful water. The grand coniferous trees, each with its own history and memories, stand behind the benches like soldiers, lining the sky. Paper bags weighted with sand and a single candle dot the shoreline. There is a small log cabin constructed of wood in an old ashfilled fire pit, but the fire has not yet been started. The sky turns from deep blue to pale black as the fiery orange sun begins to set over the lake. Suddenly, all is quiet as an Indian with a majestic headdress beats a large animal skin tom-tom. A soothing voice tells an ancient Indian legend as a few Indians pantomime the tale: There once was an old Indian who was always melancholy. He was the God of Winter, and he lived in a fortress surrounded by huge ice walls. He had plagued the area with ice and snow for many years, destroying all the crops. A young brave was sent to stop this old man. He was the God of Summer, but he had little power at the time. He traveled to the man s fortress and timidly knocked on the door. As he walked in, his heat began to melt the walls. The God of Winter was enraged, but he could not stop the young brave. The old man melted too, and the God of Summer once again became powerful. The story ends, but no applause is heard. Though everyone has enjoyed the dramatic narrative, this event is too serious for applause or laughter. Only silence comes from the captive audience.

3 BEGINNINGS AND ENDS 51 A young counselor walks in front of the unlit fire. Magically, he produces a spark from his hands. He casts the flame so that it gently descends into the calm lake and then is extinguished. The campers are astounded. This tall and strong-willed counselor begins to speak. Slowly, but loudly, he recites a poem which introduces the theme of the night: Beginnings and Ends. The poem seems to flow like the lake, these first few words of a long, wonderful night yet to come. We are overwhelmed by the way the words seem to wrap us up and carry us away to a land that only we can see. All is quiet again as the counselor concludes his poem and reclines on the sacred ground. Very young campers use him as a pillow, for it is already eight o clock and they are tired. As we peer out over the lake, a canoe bearing a lighted torch drifts near. The dark red sun has almost set, and all is calm. The vessel glides closer to the fire area, until the older campers in the canoe can wade to shore and into the Council Ring. They bring with them the flaming torch to light the fire. The torch touches the logs and the wood bursts into flames. As the torch is extinguished in the lake, the first few brave sparks shoot out of the fire and float into the nighttime sky. Now the true council fire can begin. A camper with a guitar walks to the fire and kneels down. He lays some music on the ground, knowing the fire will illuminate the notes. As he plays, everyone listens: Now my son was born just the other day/he learned to walk while I was away... As some mysterious musical force comes over the campers, they join in harmony for the chorus: And the cat s in the cradle and the silver spoon/little Boy Blue and the

4 52 GETTING THERE man in the moon... The song fades into silence as two other campers step forward. This is their first council fire, so they are timid and shy. They speak quietly as they read a poem that they wrote during rest period. The poem relates to their first few days at camp. As darkness descends upon the land, more campers and counselors recite speeches, read poems, and sing songs. By now the sun has set, and the fire dances up into the sky. Some campers stare at the candles, which create mysterious bouncing patterns in the paper bags. Others count the waves as they gently touch the shore. A slight breeze begins to stir the leaves, and spooky noises can be heard. Thoughts are abruptly interrupted by the slow, even bass notes of the Indian drum. The archery specialist steps before the fire, crossbow in hand. As an ancient poem about an honest warrior who never misses his mark is recited, he draws an arrow from the bag slung over his shoulder and holds the tip in the fire. When he pulls it out, the tip sizzles and glows. He draws back the bow and, when the poem is finished, lets the arrow fly across the lake. The sparks create a trail which streaks through the night. Two more arrows are released, and they too make trails of fire. As the evening draws to a close and the fire slowly dies, a counselor known for his singing steps in front of the fire. The sky is pitch-black by now, and all that is visible are the moonlit tops of trees. This counselor plays his guitar and begins to sing a traditional camp song: The whispering of trees, the haunting melodies... Everyone is familiar with this song, for it has been sung time and again by campers and counselors, young and old. I am seated next to a child whose fa-

5 BEGINNINGS AND ENDS 53 ther composed this beautiful haunting melody twentythree summers ago. We all join in to sing the chorus one last time, softly, slowly, as one unified group bonded by a feeling of mutual friendship: Thunderbird, what you are, stretches near and far/you stretch your fingers and you ll send/strong young boys to proud young men. The song s profoundly moving words fade away as one last poem is read by the program director. Finally, the council fire ends with the traditional practice of making a friendship circle, a chain of crossing arms right over left and holding hands with the people on either side. Taps is played, and we all sing Living in Tents and Cabins. Then the camp director shares a traditional Irish prayer: May the road always rise up to meet you... We chorus, Sing your way home at the end of the day. Smile all the way, send your troubles away... The songs we have sung, the poems I have heard, the thoughts that other campers have expressed affect me deeply. Candles lead the way up spooky, rocky paths as we return to our cabins. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Adam Schwartz attends Sycamore Jr. High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. His hobbies range from playing the piano to Rollerblading. He is active in student government and writes for his school newspaper, The Flyer.